Hey again, my friends. Well... yes, this update has got to be the latest I've ever posted. I'm truly sorry to anyone who was kept waiting for another chapter, things get in the way... the OAT testing, for one, which if you don't know is a big testing policy for the US... stupid, stupid, stupid. And then there's been sickness, and homework, and crap like that. So without other excuses, I'm here, and glad to be. Thank you for checking out the next chapter, I'm enjoying how it's going. Review if you take pity on me =)

Chapter Ten: The Cho Triangle

"House, Ms. Lisbon is demanding you let Jane go. This isn't right that you're keeping him just because you want a friend to torment," Lisa Cuddy snapped.

She was in her office, standing at her desk, and glaring at House, hands on her hips.

House stared at her. "Sorry, that wasn't very scary. Now if you'd shouted-"

"For the millionth time, I'm serious, House! I'm not letting this go on."

"But," House said. "But but.... Blondie fainted yesterday, and I don't feel like he's ready to leave. Anyways, there are... emotional things... that should be sorted out before they all leave..."

"You mean you're being nosy. And since when have you started caring for any patient?" Cuddy demanded, dark eyes fierce.

House got up, cane in his grip, and began limping out of the office. "Sine I started watching Scrubs."

The doors swung open and House limped through, closing on Cuddy, as she stared after House hopelessly. "You make no sense!" she called after him, shaking her head in frustration.

House limped out into the busy lobby, with patients and nurses scrambling all around him. But one woman did not scramble; she beelined. Right at House.

Lisbon.

House saw her, and swung around, beginning to limp the other way. But she caught up with him easily and whirled around, facing House. "I want you to let Jane go."

House stared at her, brow raised. "And I want you to get out of my face. How about we both close our eyes, count to three, and see if our wants come true?"

Lisbon blinked. "What?"

"Close those eyes," House said. Lisbon, frowning, slowly closed her eyes.

"One.... two...." House counted.

He paused, then ducked away.

Lisbon realized the trick too late and quickly opened her eyes. "House!" she shouted after the retreating limper.

He gave no sign he heard her, and hopped into the elevator. The doors closed.

He sighed and shook his head. "Women," he muttered, as the elevator beeped and came to a stop, the silver doors swinging open.

Standing outside was Lisbon, staring coolly at him.

They stared at each other for a second. "Wow, that was fast," House remarked as he stepped out of the elevator.

"Two can play this game," she said shortly.

House smiled. "I like you," he commented. "Walk," he commanded as they started down the hallway.

"I know what Dr. Cuddy was talking to you about, and I'm going to file a lawsuit if you don't stop holding Jane prisoner!"

"Lawsuit? Wow, that's a big word for such a little lady. Are you sure how Jane feels about this?"

Lisbon stiffened. "No."

House smiled. "Here's your chance to ask him," he told her, pointing his cane to an achingly familiar doorway. Lisbon stared at it, expression unfathomable.

"You," she said shakily.

House frowned thoughtfully, lowering his cane. "What has caused you to lose that confidence, Lisbon?"

Lisbon stared at House. "I don't want to talk to him right now," she said shortly. Something flickered in her eyes as she slowly turned around. "Just let Jane go, soon," she called over her shoulder as she began to walk away.

House stood there, leaning on his cane, face thoughtful. "You didn't have any trouble talking to him last night."

Lisbon froze in her tracks, and said nothing for a long minute. Quietly, she said, "I hate you."

House sighed. "Lisbon, you can't hide your feelings forever-"

"Shut up!" she snarled, and raced down the hall until she had disappeared.

House was quiet, and he slowly looked over to Jane's room.

He knew the blondie had heard the whole exchange.

* * *

Rigsby was alone, strolling quietly down the sidewalk. He was heading to the theater, to see a movie with Cho, since there was nothing else to do. Lisbon had ordered Van Pelt to stay at the hospital and keep and eye on things while she looked for House. It was strange; almost like she was making an effort to keep Rigsby and Van Pelt apart.

His heels clicking roughly on the hard, chalky sidewalk, he took a deep breath, and finally gave in to the flaming curiosity in his chest. Lisbon's silence over the whole underwear thing was making him nervous, and he had to find out sooner or later what she'd told Van Pelt that morning.

Rigsby took out his black cellphone and dialed Van Pelt's number quickly.

It rang once. Twice. At last it picked up. "Van Pelt," her voice spoke.

"Grace," Rigsby said quickly.

"Wayne?" Van Pelt asked, sounding startled. "Hey. Where are you?"

"Heading to the movies to see one with Cho. But I'd rather see one with you; no offense to old Cho, course," he added with a chuckle. The cold morning sunlight broke through a wispy cloud and hit the ground, warming
Rigsby's face. He smiled slightly.

He could hear Van Pelt's grin through the phone. "Me, too. It's so boring here at the hospital."

Rigsby chuckled, but it was dry. "Look... I... I was wondering about this morning. When you were out with Lisbon. What did she tell you?"

Van Pelt was quiet. "Wayne..."

"Please, Grace, I feel like I need to know."

Van Pelt sighed. "Wayne... she didn't... she didn't mention it."

Rigsby stopped walking. "What?"

"Exactly. I was so sure she'd talk about it, but I... I think there's something bothering her. Wayne, something's wrong. She wasn't acting like, you know, her normal self, because if she'd been normal... I know she would have
brought it up."

Rigsby frowned, rubbing his jaw and sighing. He kicked his heel on the sidewalk as cars rushed by, people chatted and walked. "Alright, I'll see what I can do. Maybe I can ask what's wrong. Grace, this silence is not good. I feel like it's a bomb about to blow up..."

"That's how I feel, but like you said- we'll get through it, we'll figure this out. Hey, I gotta go, Lisbon's walking over. Bye."
Rigsby was quiet. "Bye."

He clicked the phone off, and stood there, thinking. Now that Van Pelt had mentioned it, that made sense... Lisbon had been acting different very recently. He wasn't sure why, and he knew it couldn't mean anything good.

Not a minute had passed when suddenly Rigsby's phone was ringing wildly. He jumped, and nearly dropped it as he answered. "What?"

"Rigsby, it's Cho."

"Hey."

"I'm not going to the movie."

Rigsby blinked. "Oh, well, that's fine. But why?"

Cho was quiet, uncomfortable, for a long second. "I'm going out."

Rigsby laughed. Suddenly it clicked. "You asked Cameron out, didn't you?"

He could almost hear Cho's shrug. "Yeah. And?"

Rigsby grinned. He felt proud of his little buddy. "Good job, I knew you liked her. Have fun, Cho, I'll be fine at the movies."

Cho cleared his throat. "Thanks. But... Rigsby?"

Rigsby frowned, smiling expectantly. "Yeah?"

Cho was silent for a long minute, trying to decide what words to use, when he spoke at last. "Do you have any suggestions for what I should wear?"

Rigsby laughed. "Stay where you are, Cho, I'm coming to help. Are you at the hotel?"

"Yeah."

Rigsby just smiled and shook his head. "I'm about to call a cab."

* * *
"I look stupid."

Cho was in the backseat of a taxi with Rigsby, on their way to the lunch place where Cho had set up his date with Cameron.

"You do not. You look handsome," Rigsby replied with a laugh.

Cho really didn't look that bad. He was in a white button-down shirt with a bit of his chest showing (Rigsby had assured Cho that women liked that), and nice black pants. He looked more relaxed and comfy that Rigsby had ever seen him.

"I feel stupid."

"Don't. And there's your place," Rigsby said as he tossed the cab driver some money and climbed out, slamming the yellow door behind them. Cho put his hands in his pockets.

"It's too cold to wear this thin shirt."

"Stop complaining, you sound like my grandma," Rigsby replied as he nudged Cho down the sidewalk.

The restaurant was pretty, with large glass windows that gleamed like frozen water, and sparkling lights decorating them. Inside, it looked clean and snug, and a bright sign hanging above the fancy doors said "Igarta
Restaurant" in large, curly red letters.

Hopping up the stairs, Rigsby peered in.

"Is she there?" Cho asked, sounding a little strained.

Rigsby looked around, then his eyes lit up. "Sure is. She looks pretty, Cho."

"I know," he said, like he'd always known.

Rigsby looked back at Cho, beaming. "Alright, well, good luck. Remember, be relaxed, be cool, be polite, and not too romantic, women think you're rushing in if you do that."

Cho nodded. "Thanks, Rigsby," he said honestly, and he didn't smile, but his eyes did. And that was enough for Rigsby, who nodded, clapped his friend on the shoulder, and started walking back towards the street to hail a cab. Cho took a deep breath and started towards the restaurant.

"Oh, and Cho?"

Cho paused and glanced back at Rigsby.

"Try to laugh, would you?" he suggested, grinning.

Cho just shook his head and swung the doors open, stepping into the warm restaurant.

He looked around. There were several people, all talking quietly and eating and laughing. At last, his gaze fell upon a girl with long, wavy brown hair, sitting quietly by the window. Like she felt his eyes, she looked up, and smiled.

"Cho, hello," she greeted him as he walked over to the table.

Cho felt himself smile at Cameron. "Hey," he replied. Act cool. Right.

"I was thinking... since it's like a date and all, we should use first names for once." Cameron grinned slightly.

Cho blinked. "This is gonna be weird."

Cameron laughed. "Well, let's try it... Kimball?"

Cho nodded. "Not too bad."

She grinned and began looking through the menu. "So what do you think you'll get? I love this place..."

Cho blinked. "Ah, I've never come here before, so it's my first."

Cameron realized this. "Oh that's right, you're from California. Well, um, Kimball," she said, laughing. Cho laughed as well; he was startled by how much Cameron brought out in him. "It's weird, I always forget that... it's sort of like I feel like I've known you a lot longer than just a week."

Cho stared at her, eyes wide. "Really? Thats, um, weird. I kinda feel like that too, some days."

Cameron smiled. "Really?"

He nodded, and smiled nervously. "Well, I guess I'll get a sandwich or something. I'm not really here about the food, I'm here for you." He stopped. "Crap, that sounded horrible."

Cameron just smiled. "No, it was sweet."

Cho scoffed, shaking his head. "I'm, like, really bad at dating. I don't do it much."

Cameron watched Cho, something dark in her eyes. "Really? I kind of don't, either... work is my only love, most days. I suppose I should get out more often, but..." She shrugged.

Cho took a deep breath, and forced a smile. What to talk about? "So... I want to know about you. Um, family, friends, pet rocks..."

"Pet rocks?" Cameron laughed. "Well, I'm sad to say I have no pet rocks..."

"Shame," Cho remarked. He made her laugh again.

"But I do have a family... so maybe we should start there?"

Cho gazed at her. "That would be a good start."


Haha... "awh" moment for Cho and Cameron, please (: Rigsby's sure enjoying his role as match-maker... while the story between Lisbon and Jane thickens. Hmm... anyone want an update? (: